We’ve Received Of His Fullness · Monday, April 23rd ·by Pastor Chris

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For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him (John 3:34).

2 Kings 2 tells the story of the great prophet, Elijah, and how he was transported via a chariot of fire to heaven. But before that time, Elisha, one of the prophets that served him entreated "…I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9). Today, there’re Christians who take a cue from Elisha and pray that the Lord would grant them "a double portion" of the anointing. That’s a wrong prayer. The new creation doesn’t require any double portion of the anointing because He’s got all of it! When you were born again and the Holy Spirit came into your life, He didn’t come in bits and fragments; He came to dwell in you in His fullness.
What Elisha meant by "double portion" is understood from Moses’ instruction to the Israelites about the rights of the firstborn in Deuteronomy 21:17: "…he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the firstborn, by giving him a double portion of all that he hath: for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his." What this means is that, if for example, a man had six sons, he’d have to divide his entire inheritance into seven places, such that the firstborn gets a double share, as the right of the firstborn, while the remaining five sons get one each.
This was what Elisha requested for; the right of the firstborn. He wanted to assume the position of leadership amongst the other prophets in Israel, who at that time were under the tutelage of the prophet Elijah. And because of his spiritual perception, he got it and became the leading prophet over them (Read 2 Kings 2:1-25 for details). It’s a misapprehension to say that Elisha wanted twice what Elijah had; there’s no way that could have happened because it would mean Elisha asking Elijah for what he (Elijah) didn’t have.
You don’t have to ask God for a double portion of the Spirit, because the Bible says "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16). Just as the Lord Jesus had the Spirit without measure, because He was sent of the Father, you also have the Spirit without measure (John 3:34) because Jesus said, "...as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (John 20:21). So, all you need do is to continually get yourself filled with the Spirit to overflowing as the Apostle Paul admonished in Ephesians 5:18-19.
Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit whom I’ve received in His fullness. I declare today that He is fully operational in me; and as I stir up the anointing in me, I’m enabled to change circumstances and impact the lives of those around me with the power of the Spirit, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
f u r t h e r s t u d y: John 20:21; Ephesians 5:18-20